CLINICAL EVENTS CALENDAR
- Monday, September 13, 2010 - 23:00CEPIA Introduction to Cardiac Electrophysiologyhttp://www.cepia.com.au
- Friday, September 17, 2010 - 00:0016th Annual SASEAP Workshop for EP Allied Professionalshttp://www.saseap.org
- Monday, September 20, 2010 - 23:00Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2010http://www.tctmd.com
- Friday, September 24, 2010 - 00:00VI International Symposium on Interventional Electrophysiology in the Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Atrial Fibrillation Blog
Spread the Word! September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month
Those of us who specialize in atrial fibrillation (AF) understand its enormous impact on a growing segment of our population, in terms of both quality of life and long-term survival. More than five million Americans have AF and the disease causes more than 66,000 deaths a year, and those numbers are rising. According to research from The Advisory Board Cardiovascular Roundtable, the number of AF catheter cases in the U.S. will increase almost 100% between 2007 and 2012.
We all want to help people afflicted with AF, but there’s one problem with the disease that we can’t fix in our labs -- the vast majority of the general public that has never heard of atrial fibrillation. As we know, such ignorance can be hazardous to their health. About 30% of people with AF have no symptoms, and often the first sign of the disease is a stroke. (People with AF are 2-7 times more likely to suffer a stroke than the general population.)
Studies Show AF Ablation Has Clinical and Cost Advantages
Despite the fact that physicians have been performing radiofrequency ablations (RFAs) since the 1990s, less than 1% of the atrial fibrillation (AF) patient population in the U.S. and Europe is offered catheter-based treatment. This percentage, however, will no doubt rise significantly over the next decade. According to research from The Advisory Board Cardiovascular Roundtable, the number of AF catheter cases in the U.S. will increase almost 100% between 2007 and 2012.
Demographic trends, advances in ablation treatment and diagnostic techniques, health reform and new research will further accelerate the acceptance of AF ablation as a primary treatment strategy. Several studies have shown that AF ablation has both clinical and cost advantages in comparison with anti-arrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy.
Multi-site International Study will Investigate Use of Delayed Enhancement MRI to Stage Progression of Atrial Fibrillation
The prevalence rates for atrial fibrillation (AF) are increasing, and annual costs to treat this disease are estimated to be $7 billion. Our research at the University of Utah has shown significant and promising results in applying late gadolinium-enhanced (delayed enhancement) cardiac MRI (DE-MRI) technology for non-invasive scar assessment in the left atrium (LA). For example, used prior to catheter ablation, DE-MRI can identify regions of significant structural remodeling or fibrosis. This imaging modality has also been shown to be very useful in examining the amount and distribution of ablation-related scarring.
HRS Scientific Sessions Show that New MRI Techniques for AF Management are Gaining Widespread Acceptance
Last month’s Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Scientific Sessions in Denver provided ample evidence that MRI techniques will play an increasingly significant role in the diagnoses, treatment and management of AF patients. Our CARMA Center at the University of Utah, which is at the forefront of MRI research efforts, contributed to the “buzz” about MRI with our satellite symposium, investigators’ meetings, posters and awards.
We were especially encouraged by the enthusiastic response we received from representatives for influential research centers regarding CARMA’s international multi-center research project. The purpose of this study is to validate that the use of Delayed Enhancement MRI to detect atrial fibrosis is a useful diagnostic staging tool for evaluating patients and determining the most effective treatment options.
New CME Satellite Symposium Will Highlight Latest Treatment and Management Options for AF
Cardiologists and sub-specialists will have an opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation at a Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Complementary CME Satellite Symposium on Thursday, May 13 at the Hyatt Regency Denver. The program, “Coming to Consensus: Defining New Treatment and Management Options for Atrial Fibrillation,” is hosted by the University of Utah School of Medicine and sponsored by an educational grant from eCardio Diagnostics.
Topics covered at the symposium, which will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., will include:
• Can ambulatory cardiac monitoring be used to prevent anti-coagulation in AF patients?
• Is there a role for complex fractionated electrograms in the management of AF?
• What are the endpoints of AF ablation procedures?
• MRI for AF management: How can this be used to follow disease progression and define optimal treatment?
AFIS: Comprehensive Software for Managing Atrial Fibrillation Patients
As I mentioned in my last blog, one of the highlights of the recent Third Annual Western Atrial Fibrillation Symposium was a presentation by Walid Saliba, MD, from the Cardiovascular Medicine department at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Saliba spoke about the Atrial Fibrillation Information System (AFIS), the first comprehensive information system developed specifically to support the medical specialty of cardiac electrophysiology.
The primary purpose of AFIS is to assist electrophysiologists in the daunting task of evaluating numerous data sources needed for AF patient management. It captures images, monitor tests, procedural reports, clinic notes and patient history to provide clinicians with a longitudinal data set that presents a holistic view of the patient.
Highlights from the Western Atrial Fibrillation Symposium
Last month’s Third Annual Western Atrial Fibrillation Symposium was a resounding success. More than 300 cardiologists, physicians and others attended this world-class conference, which was sponsored by the University of Utah School of Medicine’s Division of Cardiology and hosted by the Comprehensive Arrhythmia Research & Management Center (CARMA).
The symposium’s faculty featured physicians from renowned medical centers in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia. Their presentations covered new research and developments regarding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation. Some of the notable presenters and their topics included:
The Upcoming Western Atrial Fibrillation Symposium
Click to Enlarge Images
In only a few years, the Western Atrial Fibrillation Symposium has become a must-attend event for hundreds of cardiologists, physicians and others interested in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation. The third annual conference, which will take place February 26-27 in Park City, Utah, has attracted a world-class faculty that includes physicians from leading medical centers in the U.S., Belgium, Canada, France, Germany and Japan.
The speakers will provide updates on new research and its implications, including these topics on three notable clinical trials:
• The Athena Trial: A Turning Point in Atrial Fibrillation Management for Patients with Normal Hearts?
• The Castle-AF Trial and its Impact on Atrial Fibrillation Management for Patients with Heart Failure
• Impact of the RE-LY Trials on Anticoagulation Strategies: Are We Closing the Coumadin Clinics?
Making Progress on an AF Disease Progression Model
Click to Enlarge Images
Good news for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF): thanks to a novel application of MRI technology, we are now able to stage the progression of their disease. Even more exciting is the fact that our staging models show great promise as a tool for predicting the outcomes for catheter ablation procedures based on patients’ pre-ablation images.
Our research at the University of Utah uses 3D delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) to determine the degree of fibrosis in the left atrial myocardial tissue of AF patients before radiofrequency ablation. We developed protocols and pulse sequences to optimize the images.
All Subscriptions are FREE to qualified cardiology professionals
- Subscribe to:
- Journal
- Digital Journal
- E-News
- RSS feed
Newly Revised and Updated for 2009!
EP Lab Digest Blogs
- Atrial Fibrillation BlogNassir F. Marrouche, MD
- Atrial Fibrillation BlogNassir F. Marrouche, MD
Surgical Site Infection Education
Plymouth, Minnesota
Boston, Massachusetts
CME Showcase
 LUMEN 2011 - THE SYMPOSIUM ON OPTIMAL TREATMENTS FOR ACUTE MI Information coming soon. Live Symposium Date: February 24-16, 2011 Location: JW Marriott Marquis Miami Miami Beach, Florida 33131 |
REVIEW OUR OTHER
CARDIOLOGY BRANDS
Check out our other resources for healthcare professionals of all specialties.
